Chapter 140: Gumu Sheng’s Foundation Establishment
Chapter 140: Chapter 140: Gumu Sheng’s Foundation Establishment
「After the New Year.」
When Bai Lin returned to Immortal Peach Mountain from Gaoji Mountain, Li Ping couldn’t help but frown after taking a good look at her.
What made him frown was Bai Lin’s cultivation.
The year Bai Lin arrived at Immortal Peach Mountain, she was nineteen years old and at the Qi Refining Third Level.
She had been at Immortal Peach Mountain for nine years. Although she had to manage the residence and handle various chores, Li Ping often gave her Cultivation Elixirs. Furthermore, she was able to practice in a Tier Two Upper Grade Spiritual Land.
As a result, her cultivation speed hadn’t been slow before. But in the last two years, Li Ping could clearly feel her progress slowing down.
After all this time, she still hadn’t broken through to the Qi Refining Sixth Level.
According to Li Ping’s estimates, she should have broken through last year.
Thinking of this, he casually asked, "Lin’Er, have you run into any problems with your cultivation recently?"
Hearing Li Ping’s question, Bai Lin was visibly startled for a moment, but she quickly smiled and said, "Not at all. My cultivation is going very smoothly."
"That’s good, then." Li Ping reminded her, "You should focus more on your cultivation. Try to reach the Peak of Qi Refining by the time you’re around forty."
Bai Lin nodded. "Mm, I understand."
"Alright, you can go now."
Watching Bai Lin’s retreating figure, Li Ping was lost in thought.
’Cultivation speed doesn’t just slow down for no reason,’ he mused. He suspected Bai Lin might be hiding something from him.
When Bai Lin first arrived at Immortal Peach Mountain, she was nineteen. Now, nine years had passed, and she was twenty-eight.
As she grew older and experienced more, her thoughts had become more complex, losing their former innocence.
Li Ping shook his head to himself. ’Only at the Qi Refining Fifth Level at twenty-eight. Bai Qing is just a year older than her, yet he’s about to break through to the Qi Refining Eighth Level. Even though her Spiritual Root is a bit weaker, the difference shouldn’t be this great.’
’I hope you come to your senses soon. Don’t hold yourself back!’
In fact, Bai Lin had received even more Cultivation Elixirs from him than Bai Qing had.
...
Less than two months after the New Year passed.
Gumu Sheng finally polished his Magical Power to the Peak of Qi Refining. After steadying his mindset, he went to Immortal Peach Mountain without hesitation to apply to use the Foundation Establishment slot he had won at auction, receive his Foundation Establishment Pill, and attempt his breakthrough!
After his identity and Foundation Establishment qualification were verified, someone quickly flew over from Cyan Dragon Mountain to escort him.
The person who came, dressed in a light blue Magic Robe and possessing an imposing aura, was none other than Zhang Tie.
Li Ping had instructed him long ago to volunteer for the task of guarding Gumu Sheng during his Foundation Establishment.
Zhang Tie naturally followed his Big Brother’s words unconditionally. So, he had already arranged it with Meng Qingyi beforehand, and the protection duty naturally fell to him.
"Second Brother!" Gumu Sheng called out enthusiastically when he saw Zhang Tie land.
Zhang Tie smiled and nodded, leading Gumu Sheng up the mountain and explaining the situation there as they walked.
Eventually, he brought Gumu Sheng to the same seclusion chamber he had used for his own Foundation Establishment breakthrough.
"Second Brother, should I go in now?" Gumu Sheng asked.
Zhang Tie smiled. "Don’t be hasty. Wait a moment. I’ll send a message now to have the Foundation Establishment Pill delivered."
Hearing this, Gumu Sheng nodded and began to wait patiently.
Not long after Zhang Tie sent the message, a figure quickly flew down from the mountain.
Upon arrival, the figure called out casually, "Junior Brother Zhang, you’re the one on guard duty this time? What a coincidence."
Recognizing the newcomer, Zhang Tie also smiled. "Yes. Sorry to trouble you to make the trip, Senior Brother Xiong."
The person who delivered the Foundation Establishment Pill was none other than Xiong Pohai.
"Huh? It’s you." Landing, Xiong Pohai saw Gumu Sheng next to Zhang Tie and let out a sound of surprise, apparently not expecting Gumu Sheng to be the one attempting Foundation Establishment.
Gumu Sheng quickly bowed. "Greetings, Senior Xiong."
Xiong Pohai handed the Jade Bottle containing the Foundation Establishment Pill to Zhang Tie for inspection.
Only then did he look at Gumu Sheng, waving his hand nonchalantly. "No need for such formalities. If you succeed in your Foundation Establishment, we’ll all be on the same side. The last time I came for you, I was just enforcing the law impartially. I hope you don’t hold it against me."
Gumu Sheng repeatedly said he wouldn’t dare.
Xiong Pohai just smiled and said nothing more.
Just then, Zhang Tie finished inspecting the Jade Bottle. He confirmed there was no issue with the seal on it; it was indeed the handiwork of Fenglan Master.
He then passed the Jade Bottle to Gumu Sheng and said solemnly, "Third Brother, I wish you swift success!"
Gumu Sheng nodded, took a deep breath, and walked straight into the seclusion chamber.
Activating the chamber’s Array, he sat cross-legged in the center and began to meditate, acclimating to the environment and adjusting his condition.
Seeing that the chamber’s Array was sealed, Zhang Tie and Xiong Pohai exchanged a few more pleasantries.
After the other man left, he walked to the side, sat cross-legged, and began his vigil for Gumu Sheng.
He would ensure that no one disturbed Gumu Sheng during his Foundation Establishment.
...
「Several days later, inside the seclusion chamber.」
Gumu Sheng, who was sitting cross-legged in meditation, suddenly opened his eyes. After several days of regulating his energy, his condition had reached its absolute peak. It was time to attempt Foundation Establishment.
Without hesitation, he took out the Jade Bottle that Zhang Tie had given him not long ago.
He tore the seal from the bottle’s mouth, took out the Foundation Establishment Pill inside, and swallowed it directly, beginning to refine its medicinal power.
Gumu Sheng had two Foundation Establishment Pills, which theoretically gave him two chances to attempt a breakthrough.
’So, my plan is to first take one Foundation Establishment Pill and give it a try.’
’It would be best if I succeed on the first try. But even if I don’t, one Foundation Establishment Pill will still push my Magical Power, Divine Power, and Divine Sense closer to the Foundation Establishment Stage, turning me into a Half-Step Foundation Establishment cultivator!’
’That way, my second attempt at Foundation Establishment will be much easier!’
’At that point, I’ll take the other Foundation Establishment Pill and the Jade Heart Liquid, and make a second attempt at Foundation Establishment in one go!’
As soon as he swallowed the Foundation Establishment Pill, Gumu Sheng felt a surging medicinal power erupt from his abdomen, burning like a Blazing Fire, while the rest of his body remained unchanged.
Recalling the Foundation Establishment Technique his Big Brother had taught him, he quickly guided the Blazing Fire-like medicinal power to transform his body, Magical Power, and Divine Sense, attempting to break through in one fell swoop.
In an instant, under his guidance, countless streams of heat flowed through his meridians to every part of his body. Wherever the heat passed, waves of intense pain and a numb, itching sensation followed, making him feel extremely uncomfortable.
Gumu Sheng knew this was the power of the Foundation Establishment Pill performing Abnormal Marrow and Tendons, improving his constitution. Thus, he gritted his teeth against the discomfort and continued to guide the remaining medicinal power throughout his body.
Several days later, when he finally exhausted the medicinal power of the Foundation Establishment Pill in his body and opened his eyes, he was chagrined to discover that his cultivation was still stuck at the Peak of Qi Refining. However, his Magical Power was now considerably more potent than before.
His once-gaseous Magical Power had become viscous.
’With Four Spirit Roots, Foundation Establishment really is difficult.’ Gumu Sheng gave a wry smile after checking his condition.
In this attempt, he had completely used up the Foundation Establishment Pill’s medicinal power, yet he hadn’t even reached the step of drawing in the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.
After his wry smile, Gumu Sheng didn’t rush to try again. Instead, he began to reflect on the successes and failures of his first attempt.
After a few moments, he nodded thoughtfully, closed his eyes again, and resumed meditating to adjust his state.
Under the protection of the Foundation Establishment Pill, and since he hadn’t reached the step of drawing in Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, he wasn’t injured despite the failure.
However, while he was unharmed, it was inevitable that his Magical Power had become chaotic. So, before his next attempt, he needed to stabilize his condition first.
More than ten days passed.
Gumu Sheng opened his eyes, his state fully adjusted. He carefully took out the Foundation Establishment Pill that Li Ping had given him from his Storage Bag, along with the Jade Heart Liquid he had won at the Immortal City auction.
Placing the two items in front of him, Gumu Sheng’s expression turned solemn.
’Unlike the first attempt, this will be my last chance.’
Instead of immediately taking the Pill, Gumu Sheng began to recall his experiences since stepping onto the path of immortality.
Generations of his ancestors had all been mortals, yet he had been lucky enough to be found to possess a Spiritual Root.
After embarking on the Immortal Dao, he had set up a stall in the Immortal City to earn Spirit Stones for cultivation resources.
Just as his stall was beginning to succeed, he was ostracized and bullied by other Low-Tier Loose Cultivators.
He joined the Friends Association and, under Big Brother’s protection, was finally able to do business in peace.
After Big Brother achieved Foundation Establishment, he didn’t break his oath as Gumu Sheng had feared. Instead, he did everything in his power to help them attempt Foundation Establishment...
...
Scene after scene flashed through his mind.
Finally, a smile appeared on Gumu Sheng’s face, and the image in his mind froze on the moment Big Brother handed him the Foundation Establishment Pill.
At this point, he no longer hesitated.
He directly tipped out and swallowed the Foundation Establishment Pill obtained from the Demon Cultivator who had attempted Possession, and followed it with the Jade Heart Liquid.
With the combined effect of two Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects, his probability of success was now similar to that of a Cultivator with Three Spirit Roots. On top of that, he had already partially completed the process during his first attempt.
At this moment, Gumu Sheng was brimming with confidence. ’I will achieve Foundation Establishment!’
...
Zhang Tie stood guard outside the seclusion chamber for nearly a month. He hadn’t seen Gumu Sheng emerge, nor had he detected any fluctuations in the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.
Although he was puzzled, he didn’t dwell on it and simply continued to wait patiently.
Besides, according to the rules set by Fenglan Master, as long as the person attempting Foundation Establishment didn’t open the Array themselves, no one was allowed to disturb them.
’Perhaps he’s still polishing his condition,’ Zhang Tie guessed privately. ’Of course, it’s also possible that his Foundation Establishment failed, and he’s completely devastated right now.’
Unlike with his other brothers and sisters in the association, to be honest, Zhang Tie’s feelings toward this Third Brother, Gumu Sheng, had always been complicated.
After all, right after Big Brother had reached Foundation Establishment, Gumu Sheng had tried to use his greater contributions to cut in line ahead of him.
He might be simple and straightforward, but he wasn’t an idiot. How could he not harbor some resentment?
...
But just as Zhang Tie was speculating, he suddenly sensed the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi begin to fluctuate violently. In a matter of moments, a Spiritual Qi vortex dozens of yards in diameter formed in the sky above Gumu Sheng’s seclusion chamber.
As Zhang Tie watched, several days later, the massive Spiritual Qi vortex dispersed on its own, and a brilliant, multicolored glow could be faintly seen within it.
Zhang Tie knew exactly what this scene meant.
Gumu Sheng had succeeded in his Foundation Establishment.
The Friends Association now had its third Foundation Establishment Cultivator!